Farming and Childbirth

That night, a hundred men became grooms.

There were no three letters and six gifts, nor any parents or family present—everything was kept simple.

Qi Feng, a son of a prince's concubine, picked a pair of sisters, truly proving the saying that the noble circle was indeed a mess.

As for Murong Yue, the only woman among the High-grade Spirit Root talents, there was nothing much to say, but Great Sword Sect seemed accustomed to this and had arranged everything properly.

Each person received a token, a cultivation method, and was assigned a residence based on their aptitude and potential.

Under the moonlight, Lin Chang'an and Li Han sat in a small courtyard, staring at each other with a sense of shared misery.

"Chang'an, this little courtyard of yours is really enviable."

Li Han said with some envy. Although Lin Chang'an had a Mid-grade Spirit Root, his alchemy skills and young age gave him the same treatment as those with High-grade Spirit Roots in the sect.

Looking at the courtyard, which was as vast as a prince's mansion, complete with pavilions, rockeries, ponds, and over a dozen maids to attend to his needs, it had everything.

Then he thought of his own small courtyard with only two maids, and Li Han couldn't help but feel sour.

"Enviable?"

Hearing this, Lin Chang'an cast a jealous glance at the manor with red lanterns rising under the night sky. The two exchanged a look—wasn't this the one that was truly enviable?

"I cultivate the Pure Yang Five Elements Cultivation Method. As a virgin, my spiritual power is fierce and solid. I can't break my virginity until the method is complete."

Lin Chang'an shook his head helplessly. "My spiritual root is primarily Wood, with Water, Fire, Earth, and Metal as secondary, but my Five Elements affinity isn't outstanding, so I cultivate the Five Elements Cultivation Method."

After hearing this, Li Han scratched his head awkwardly. "Daoist Chang'an, I stumbled into the path of immortality by chance and cultivate the Evergreen Cultivation Method."

Lin Chang'an was stunned. "Then why are you here tonight?"

Suddenly realizing something, under the night sky, with two men, Lin Chang'an's expression shifted, and he gave an awkward laugh. "Daoist, you and I should get some rest."

"Daoist Chang'an, I just wanted to see the scenery of the cultivation world so I wouldn't regret this life. I don't want to leave any ties here."

After Li Han's explanation, Lin Chang'an secretly sighed in relief. You scared me.

"Daoist Chang'an, I plan to..."

Lin Chang'an sighed after hearing this. "This common knowledge of the cultivation world..."

One was a novice in the cultivation world, the other was restless and couldn't sleep. Under the moonlight, the two sat in the pavilion and talked through the night.

Half a month later, the youths who had held out hope were all despairing. No one came to redeem them, so they had no choice but to accept their fate and join Great Sword Sect. But Lin Chang'an always remembered that sinister gaze.

However, since these people joined late, they had no choice last time; now they had to take whatever was given. Though the women were all attractive, people were like that—only what they chose themselves was truly satisfying.

Most chose the path of marriage and children, since it was relatively easier, and the temptation of beauty was hard for their age to resist.

The rest, with firm resolve or other reasons, didn't go for children. The sect didn't support idlers, so they gradually chose ways to earn Spirit Stones, gathering cultivation resources or even buying their freedom.

A month later.

Of the two youths with High-grade Spirit Roots, one was reportedly redeemed by his clan, while the other accepted reality and chose to have children and farm Spirit Fields during the day to earn Spirit Stones.

The treatment for High-grade Spirit Roots was that the sect directly sent five women with Spirit Roots... truly making everyone envious.

No matter how gentle Great Sword Sect's methods were, they wouldn't invest resources in outsiders like them. Being able to allocate Spirit Fields so they could earn their own cultivation resources was already generous.

The same went for those having children. In short, they were given land to support themselves, but they still had hope.

For example, for each child with a Spirit Root born, the share they had to hand over decreased. The more children, the more rewards; the better the child's Spirit Root, the greater the rewards.

Though Great Sword Sect was small, it had everything—magical tools, pills, talismans, Spirit Rice, Spirit Vegetables, Beast Meat, and other cultivation and daily necessities.

By early August, they had been here for two months and seemed to have adapted.

One morning, Lin Chang'an walked out of his courtyard, greeting people familiarly. Thanks to his status as an alchemist, there was no mindless nose-in-the-air behavior.

Every month, the sect held a Trade Fair.

Outside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, both sides were bustling. Sect cultivators set up stalls, as did half-sect people like them. Goods were placed on stone tables, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Lin Chang'an walked over, bypassed the small stalls, and entered the Spirit Herb Hall of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. He found the shopkeeper and asked cautiously, as if afraid of being overheard.

"Shopkeeper Li, prepare these herbs for me."

A withered old man, over sixty, at the Qi Refining third layer, broke into a beaming smile when he saw the visitor.

"Alchemist Lin, you've finally come to your senses. In this world, only Spirit Stones are real; everything else is just passing clouds."

Lin Chang'an rubbed his nose awkwardly, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and cupped his hands quietly. "Shopkeeper Li speaks sense. What's face or no face? Only Spirit Stones are real."

As he said the last sentence, a hint of resolve appeared on Lin Chang'an's face. This lousy place wasn't a major sect—he could afford to lose face.

He wasn't stealing or robbing; he was selling his own high-quality pills. No one could say anything about that.

Hearing this, Lin Chang'an broke into a smile. "Shopkeeper, what about the price?"

"Heh, the price is easy to discuss." The withered claw directly grasped his hand. Shopkeeper Li's old face bloomed like a chrysanthemum, making Lin Chang'an shiver.

"As long as you... hehe, give me a few pills when the time comes, I'll only charge ten Spirit Stones."

Ruthless. For outsiders like them, it was a high price.

But hearing he could get a discount, Lin Chang'an didn't mind the withered claw anymore. Instead, he grinned warmly. "Shopkeeper Li, you're really old but still sharp. Don't worry, after it's done, I'll spare you a pill to enjoy."

"Get lost with that!" Shopkeeper Li couldn't help but laugh and curse after hearing that. "You kid really don't act like a seventeen-year-old greenhorn—too slick by half."

Lin Chang'an wasn't bothered; instead, he put on a shameless grin and said in a flattering tone, "You, sir, are bursting with vitality—what need do you have for this stuff..."

Shopkeeper Li had lived over sixty years and seen all kinds of people. He waved his hand in exasperation and scolded with a laugh, "Away with you, old man here doesn't buy your flattery. At my age, having grandchildren fill the house is my greatest wish. Give me a bottle to try first."

"Shopkeeper Li, we're familiar, but business is business." When it came to the deal, Lin Chang'an wouldn't yield an inch.

"Three pills. Take it or leave it. If not, forget it—I'll buy these herbs at the original price."

Seeing Lin Chang'an's resolute expression, Shopkeeper Li couldn't help but glare with his small eyes. "You little rascal, you're really stingy. Won't spare a single hair, yet you want to pluck this old man's."

"That's what you said, sir—only Spirit Stones are real in this world."

Lin Chang'an narrowed his eyes as he spoke. In the end, Shopkeeper Li, looking like a man who'd hunted geese all his life only to have one peck his eye today, shook his head and said, "Fine, fine. Among the newcomers in recent years, you're one of a kind. Three pills it is."

"Deal."

The old man and the young man exchanged a glance, then both broke into sly, cunning smiles.

You thought you made a profit, but neither side lost.

In this place, even if you didn't have children, you had to create your own value—otherwise, no one would support you for free.

As an alchemist, besides refining the fixed quota of pills for the sect each month, he could only earn extra income in his spare time.

Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your support. If you'd like to stockpile chapters, please trouble yourself to read the last chapter on Tuesday—it affects the promotion of this book, Koi. Thank you.